Math Activity

Distribute copies of the Unexpected Guest sorting sheet and tell children that they
are going to practice sorting. Explain that they are to look around the room and find
three things that could "live" in the same house together (go together) and one thing that
does not belong in the same house. They should place the objects in the four rooms on the
sorting sheet and invite their classmates to find the unexpected guest.

Explain to children that once they find an unexpected guest, they should explain why it
doesn't belong in the house with the other objects. If they cannot explain why, the person
who collected the objects should explain how he or she sorted the objects and why one doesn't
belong. If children disagree with how things are grouped, they should explain why they disagree
and suggest more suitable objects.

Encourage children to sort several groups of objects. Once children feel they have exhausted
the supply of things to sort in the classroom, they can draw things on their sorting sheets.
Encourage them to use their imaginations when they draw objects and not to limit themselves to
things that might be found in a classroom or school.

If children have difficulty sorting, you may want to arrange them in groups and assign each
group a topic. For example, one group could look for things that have to do with math (with one
exception), while another might find writing tools (with one exception).

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